Dig That Groovy Chick: 60s Jargon Disappears

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EXPRESSION, JARGON, SLANG: SINGAPORE 60s LINGUISTIC SCENE

"Oh man dig that crazy baby!" 

We don't use an expression like that anymore do we? A person usually speaks and uses vocabulary within a certain context or cultural surrounding. When that cultural environment disappears, the expression, jargon or slang used within that context disappears too. Below is a list of expressions and questions that are hardly used today.

1   Please switch off the transistor.
2   How many EPs can you stack on the record player?
3   I like your stylish bee-hive and his kiss-curls.
4   I go ape with the programs on Rediffusion.
5   Elvis Presley's a real, cool dude.

6   Can't put anymore records in the radiogram.
7   Dig the crazy crowd at the National Theatre!
8   Little Richard, he sure likes to ball...
9   Here's a request from pen-pal Elvis Renaldo Sim for Lulu Sandra Ho...
10 I'm dialling my chick's number again.

"I'm dialling my chick's number again."

11 Can I borrow your song book to copy, 'Rock Around The Clock?'
12 Can you do the off-beat with me?

13 Hey, where're my Beatle boots?

14 Hey, play that new 78 we just bought.

15 New typewriting ribbons to copy lines from 'Peyton Place.'

16 Let's go to the Celestial Room this weekend.

17 Wow! I like your latest beatnik look.

18 Lots of cool cats at the Hotel Prince Garni tea-dance.

19 I like your Elvis sideburns.

20 Gimme a light on my menthol fag.

21 This singles costs me a dollar eighty.

22 Hey, Edmundo Ros' live on radio now.

23 My black and white's in the dump.

24 Don't have bread to buy a new color one.

25 So psychedelic! I love it.

26 Teddy boys crowding the phone booth.

27 I am going steady with Jane.

28 You like some sky juice?

29 Your moon-glasses make you hip.

30 We were making out at Mount Faber.

"Gimme a light on my menthol fag."

Teddy Boys with side-burns and kiss-curls hairdos.

These expressions are only a fraction of what 60s vocabulary can offer and with a little imagination and memory the list can go on. But how did it all start? The clues are below:

Lyrics And Song Titles:

1 'Put your glad rags on and join me hon' (Rock Around The Clock)

2 'Sure like to ball, when you hear your mama call' (Good Golly Miss Molly)

3 'A movin' and a groovin' gonna satisfy my soul' (Party)

4 'Three to get ready, now go cat go' (Blue Suede Shoes)

5 'You don't like hot-rod racin', you're so square' (Baby I Don't Care)

6 'I'll be flyin' high, rock on out to the open sky' (Rip It Up)

7 'A honky tonky Joe was standin' at the door' (Party)

8 'See ya later, alligator' (See You Later, Alligator)

So like words, the fashion was different too.

Image 1: A beehive hairdo.

Image 2: A hippie.

Image 3: A fashionable 60s evening gown. Not the Merlion but definitely a Merlady. Swan Records SE 4556 "Off Beat Cha Cha." with The Wedding, Dream, We Meet Again and We Need Each Other. 

An Original Article. Copyrights Reserved.

Saxy Guitar At Orchard Road Underground

Saturday today, 26th February at 3.00pm Orchard Road. Take the air-conditioned route to get across from Borders Books to Lido Cinema at Shaw Building and you will meet an incredible duo busking at a comfortable corner just after Marks and Spencer.

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Mr. Mohamed and Mr. Zainal (image) smile at the shoppers who pass them as the sound of their saxaphone and electric guitar fill the cool air at the underground connection. Name a song and they will play it for you. No questions asked. I looked into their brown bag on the floor and saw a few coins and dollar notes - not much of a collection at that time of day, especially after playing a few hours.

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To be fair to them I took a couple of pictures as I didn't want to disturb their performance. I managed to have a short chat to get their names and then left immediately, leaving something in their bag for tea-break. During the short interlude I had with the two gentlemen, they told me they were 60s musicians and remember the good times when they played at some of the clubs in the vicinity.

They are in the same corner most days of the week and if you see them, spare the blue, green or even red notes. You know they will appreciate the gesture. It is a breath of fresh air when saxaphone and guitar blend harmoniously to actualise a professional sound that only Mohamed and Zainal can produce, so different from the common electronic synthesizer that we hear so often in Orchard Road. And they play cool jazz too!

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PLEASE, PLEASE GIVE GENEROUSLY.

Image/Article: Andy Lim. Photo taken with an iPhone 4 in dim light.

How Many National Anthems Did Singapore Have?

Here's a book with so many interesting stories that you'll probably read it within a day. Chan Kwee Sung is a master story-teller who uses simple language and crafts lively anecdotes that scenes of old Singapore literally pop out of the pages of his 200-page book.

I have quoted Chan about his articles on Chinese food in the previous posting since they are related to my topic on street-hawkers and Elvis' hit Crawfish. 

But in keeping with this blog's music theme, I wish to highlight readers on his topic, Anthems (page 130-132) where he discusses the five major national anthems Singaporeans had to sing before Zubir Said's masterpiece, Majullah Singapura.

According to Chan, senior citizens, who have lived through the days of the British, "the fearful Japanese" and the Malay peninsula, "can modestly claim to vocalise five, or maybe six anthems (page 130)." 

These songs would include:

1. God Save The King, 
2. Kimigayo, 
3. God Save The Queen, and 
4. Negara Ku. 
5. San Min Zhu Yi, Nationalist China's anthem was sung during colonial days by       Chinese students. 

The Indians had their own anthem in Hindi spurred on by their "patriotic fervour" of Indian nationalism.  (As a child I learnt the two British National Anthem, the Malayan one and remember a little of San Min Zhu Yi.)

There are about 60 stories in the collection and Chan weaves intricately the hard facts between simple, easy to read phrases, to make them palatable for everyone. 

Before settling as a writer, he was an office assistant, a fitter, a pilot trainee, a businessman. He authored Long Life, a fortnightly column for The Straits Times Press Singapore from 1998 to 2002. Chan, who was born in 1930 passed on in 2002.

The Foreward in the book, by his children, Keen Len, Keen Ian and Lai Gwen, had Psalm 102:18 quoted, "Let this be written for a future generation, that a people not yet created may praise the Lord."

(My son Daniel received this book from his friend, one of Mr Chan's children. Thanks to both.)

             Singapore under the Japanese occupation. Bras Basah Road. Blog image only.

Image/Cover: One More Story To Tell - Memories of Singapore 1930 - 1980 by Chan Kwee Sung (2005), Landmark Books, Singapore. (Image shows Chan as a trainee pilot at old Kallang Airport, 1950).

Original article: Andy Lim.

Singapore Street-Hawker Calls And Elvis' 'Crawfish'

Street Hawkers (from theddosage.wordpress.com)

Elvis Presley sings 'Crawfish' 
(from Paramount Studios/Elvis Presley Estate)

Street Hawker
 (from National Heritage Board Archives Singapore)

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Singapore Memories:

Singapore street hawkers or vendors in the 60s have been highlighted as being unique and special. Many stories have been written about them and one author, Chan Kwee Sung in his book, One More Story To Tell, highlights the street laksa (page: 44) sold in the Katong area in the East Coast and the hot porridge (page: 49) in downtown Chinatown. These memories are etched forever in the minds of those who have lived the period and seen the food-sellers.

I remember my own encounter with these street hawkers along Geylang Road in Singapore where they advertise their food using their own unique/special hawker calls to draw out customers from their homes.

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The meat-bun man will shout, "Char siew pau..." as he pushes his cart filled with hot, steaming buns in containers balanced over a charcoal fire. Then there's the chicken porridge man selling his, "Kaiiiii choke."

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The won-ton noodle hawker's assistant who strikes a small bamboo piece with a stick, using a rhythmic beat to announce his delicious meal for 30 cents a bowl. "Tock, tick, tock, tick, tock, tick, tick, tick, tock..." I even recall the Indian rojak (spicy salad) who shouts his ware along the pavements of Geylang with, "Rojak, rojak..." Street sounds we call them. Or food sounds?

Elvis Presley singing 'Crawfish' as the lady hawker on the streets of New Orleans sells her food.

Connection: 

The food hawkers mentioned by our local writers are not uncommon in other parts of the world (images). There are street hawkers everywhere and Singapore is no different. In fact, the opening scene of the Elvis Presley movie, King Creole (Paramount: 1958) depicts street hawkers selling their wares in downtown New Orleans in the 50s. (please watch the video above). After the film title, Elvis duets with singer Kitty White to sing Crawfish.

Elvis describes the catch:

"I went to the bayou late last night

There wasn't no moon but the stars were bright

Put a big long hook on a big long pole

And I pulled Mr Crawfish outta his hole

The street call:

Crawfish, craw-aw-aw-feeesh!

See I got 'em see the size

Stripped and clean before your eyes

Sweet meat look good

Fresh and ready to cook...

Craaawfeeesh!

The sales pitch:

Now you take Mr Crawfish in your hand

He's gonna look good in your frying pan

If you fry him crisp and you boil him right

He'll be sweeter than sugar with every bite 

Crawfish..... crawfish...

(Song credited to Fred Wise/Ben Weisman, King Creole Album 1958)

How cooked food from a street hawker is carried from the ground-floor up, with ease and dexterity. Thanks to Michael Lee for the picture.

Whether it's food culture or otherwise, the world has been connected a long time ago. Like the funeral bands in New Orleans and our own Singapore funeral marching bands - the similarities are astounding.

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Perhaps there is one difference between Singapore's street vendors and those from the West; they are more imaginative and sing their wares.

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Can you remember other popular 60s songs with food as a theme?

A crawfish street hawker in the 1950's calling out to sell her fresh seafood, like in Singapore those years.

Images: 2. 

Paramount Studios/Elvis Presley Estate. 1/3. National Heritage Board, Singapore.

Original article: 

Andy Lim.

Book Quote: 

One More Story To Tell - Memories of Singapore - 1930s to 1980s (Chan Kwee Sung: Landmark Books, 2005).

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(This posting is for Derek Tait who's just joined as a Follower.)

SINGAPORE HAWKERS' FOOD.

Archiving Bloggers' History - An Enormous Task

The image above is an article from a Chinese newspaper called "MyPaper" dated 7 February, 2011 published in the local news section to feature the interview with Char Lee of '2nd Shot' and Jerome Lim of 'The Long and Winding Road' blogs.  It has been translated into English by good friend, LKM. The article was sent to me by James Seah: http://blogtoexpress.blogspot.com/. Thank you both:

"Briefly the report is about the importance and the technological challenges faced to archive digital histories that some bloggers are writing on various aspects of a community's culture e.g. food, housing, entertainment.

In an interview with My Paper, Mr *Paul Arthur, an Aussie scholar in digital histories, opined the need to systemically archive bloggers thinking and reminisces of history. He said this is an enormous and challenging task technologically.

The main challenge is how to preserve the interactive nature of a blog as an archive, given its digital links. Some local bloggers e.g. 2nd Short interviewed felt that blogs of historical value should be archived. The NLB is studying the possibility of doing so.

The side report presented the argument whether a blogger's personal perception of history can qualify to be archived as official history. The President of the Singapore Heritage Society thought an individual's reminisces of history are important as they reflect the experiences of grassroot level of society while Mr Arthur opined that over the past 20 years, history scholars have given more attention to the study of individuals' personal accounts of life experiences because they can reflect certain turning points in history.

The Report mentioned that there are a number of local blogs on historical and cultural heritage worth archiving. The best method is to systemtically group them in various categories in www to facilitate accessibility from public."

("Your blog on 60s Music is listed as one of the cultural heritage blogs. Looks like you cannot rest your fingers." Thanks KM for helping me with the translation. Must buy you another lunch. Andy.)

Image: from 'My Paper'
*Paul Arthur: http://www.paularthur.com/

Blogs cited in newspaper article:http://www.goodmorningyesterday.blogspot.com/

http://www.blogtoexpress.blogspot.com/
http://www.bullockcartwater.blogspot.com/
http://www.singapore60smusic.blogspot.com/
http://www.thelongwindingroad.blogspot.com/
http://www.singapore1960s.blogspot.com/

http://www.2ndshot.blogspot.com/

Looking For Mandy: Singapore Girl. Anyone?

Hi Andy,

I received this request from my friend Russ Wickson. See if you are able to help him with his question.

"Hi Chun See.

Thanks for getting back to me. I am wondering if amongst your numerous friends and contacts you know someone that is into old records and may have old catalogues.

I am trying to identify a European called 'Mandy' who made a 45 rpm in the mid 1960's whilst living in Singapore or possibly Johore Bahru. It is quite feasible there were recording studios in Singapore connected with all the major recording companies of that time.

The details of the 45 are in the attachment, but in case it doesn't come out the details are as follows...

Philips 45 rpm mono
ME-0179-MF
Plaiser D'Amour / O'cangaceiro

I have tried contacting Philips in the past but it seems they are not in a position to assist and I have tried searching the internet without any success.

Russ Wickson"

Can any surfer help with this query?

Hi Chun See,

Found the images (above) and recordings from the blog below but am not certain what Wickson needs, the actual record or to find Wendy.

Andy.

Image: http://www.hamsterguppies.wordpress.com/2010/12/12/1022

George Shearing: Jazz Piano Legend: 1919-2011

SONGS I LOVE:

Gone! One of the greatest musicians, truly. I often listened to him in the 50s on the family radio and was the first time I heard Lullaby Of Birdland. The radio announcer (we call them DJs now) would always say, "Ladies and gentlemen, here's the George Shearing Quintet with, Lullaby Of Birdland." It could be from the BBC? Can't remember.

PARKER, ARMSTRONG, ELLINGTON:

It was one of the first few jazz standards I was introduced to, composed by Shearing himself in 1952. I later found out that the title referred to Charlie 'Bird' Parker, another jazz great who was together with Louis Armstrong and 'Duke' Ellington.

COLE, LEE, TORME:

Britisher Sir George Shearing, who was blind, was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II lately. He was one of the best jazz pianist and concert performer having recorded over 300 songs. Legends who had appeared and recorded with him would include Nat King Cole (image), Miss Peggy Lee and Mel Torme.

UNIQUE SHEARING SOUND:

As a teenager he received only 3 years of formal training at a school for the blind. He was a natural and his musical education came from listening to Earl Hines, Fats Waller, Art Tatum and Teddy Wilson. He developed the special 'Shearing sound' characterised by the distinctive sound of the Glen Miller big band.

SEPTEMBER IN THE RAIN:

Also recorded by Shearing, Russ Hamilton and so many others, September In The Rain (1937), is another personal favourite. His repertoire of songs would definitely have been played in the dance cabarets of the Great World, Happy (Gay) World and New World amusement parks in Singapore in the late 50s and 60s in Singapore.

Images: Google Search.

Original Article (Website/Newspaper Information): Andy Lim

Valentine's Day Jokes Adapted For Singapore

Campus girls in the US and UK are reading our Singapore jokes not realising that some of the jokes are theirs, not all, some. 😊

1) Batman, flying around the Botanical Gardens in Singapore with Batgirl during     Valentine's Day, told her, "You're fun to hang out with!" 

2)  How did the Yeo Chu Kang farmer greet his wife during Valentine?
     With hogs and kisses.

3)  The snake in our Singapore Zoo?
      Hugs and hisses.

4)  The caveman in Stone Age Singapore?
     Ughs and kisses.

5)  What did the accident patient at The General Hospital say to the pretty              nurse during Valentine, "I've got a crutch on you."

6)  Ah Beng, who is in Secondary Four but in love with his English teacher, got        B-Minus for the language. On Valentine's Day he sent her chocolates and            flowers and wrote boldly on the card, BE MINE.
     
     She replied, "Thank you," returned everything and wrote, "It's still BE-MINE-      US."

My Funny Valentine: Frank Sinatra 

YouTube Video from: PM793

7) Which pop song describes The God of Love as brainless?
     Stupid Cupid by Connie Francis.

8) What do singles call Valentine's Day?
     Independence Day.

9) You date her on Valentine's Day.
    After that it's Ching Ming's Day. (All Soul's)

10) Ah Beng loved the Beatles song, "Do You Want To Know A Secret?" So on           Valentine's Day he went up to his innocent girl friend called, Ah Lian                   and sang it to her. 

      She walked off in anger after listening to it. Because his English was so             weak, he thought the song title was, "Do You Want To Smoke A Cigarette?"

Jokes have been localised and some are original ones.
You Tube: Aretha Franklin.

Batman/Batgirl: from hdqwalls.com   High resolution. Thank you guys.

Singapore Stories, Collective Memories, National Education

Remembering Our Singapore Stories

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Posted on September 3, 2010 by Gracie Lee

A week ago, The Straits Times carried an article titled In Search of the Other S’pore Story. The piece highlighted the growing number of scholarly works and memoirs published on the leftist movement in Singapore during the 1950s-60s, and the increased interest in alternative history.

The introduction of National Education to schools in 1997 is a milestone in the shaping and telling of the Singapore Story, according to the writer. Targeted at the post-65 generation who showed little awareness on Singapore’s postcolonial history, National Education was developed to nurture national cohesion by fostering a sense of identity, and by equipping the young Singaporeans with the knowledge of Singapore’s history and present challenges.

The launch of the Singapore Story exhibition in 1998, and the publication of Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew’s memoir of the same name in 1999, further established the Singapore Story narrative.

In response to official history, alternative histories burgeoned. The accounts of the movers and shakers of the political struggle in the 1950s-60s, in particular, have attracted considerable attention.

Less discernible and perhaps fortuitous in its timing, is the rise of the personal memory – seen in the proliferation of heritage and nostalgia websites. With the rise of social media, tools such as blogs, enabled quick and easy web publishing. The act of remembering, once the preserve of oral archives and history books, has gone mass. People can now record, share and relive memories of places, people, and events of past, with many at the click of a mouse.

The collective memories of individuals, especially baby boomers who had lived and witnessed these historical events, present a different facet of the Singapore Story. They also take the telling of Singapore’s history beyond the confines of the political to the social and the popular.

Many government, community and individual memory initiatives rely on such citizens’ participation in memory making and collective recalling.

These include the National Heritage Board’s MyStory, the National Library’s iremember.sg, the National Museum’s Families n Friends: A Singapore Album, Eye e City project, Joo Chiat Community website, Singapore 60s Andy’s Pop Music Influence, Second Shot, and Good Morning Yesterday - whose blog entries appear on the National Heritage Board’s Yesterday.sg.

Why this surge of interest in memory? Perhaps to borrow French historian Pierre Nora’s words, the power of the personal memory lies in its ability to present itself as “more “truthful” than history, the truth of personal experience and individual memory.” It provides an emotional anchor for us to relate and connect with history in more compelling and identifiable way.

Article from:

http://whennationsremember.sg/index.php/2010/09/03/remembering-our-singapore-story/

HAPPY VALENTINE TO ALL 60s MUSIC LOVERS! FEBRUARY, ROSES, CHOCOLATES, CANDY, SWEEETHEART, ROMANCE, KISSES, HUGS, CANDLELIGHT DINNER, DATE, CUPID, ARROW, HEARTS, POEMS, PROPOSAL, LOVE LETTERS, LOVE SONGS, ETC, ETC...

Who's The Most Googled 60s Music Celebrity Today?

Who's the most googled 60s music celebrity today?  It's someone you might have forgotten altogether because this lady is more popular than listed singers Madonna and Jennifer Lopez, actress Angelina Jolie and socialite Paris Hilton. And she's from a time when Singapore had just gained her independence in August 1965.  On the same list after Lady Gaga, Justine Bieber and Rihana our sexy lady has a career spanning half a century!

Still guessing huh? Well guess again because this post stops here. One last clue. She is  the 4th most often searched celebrities on Google and gained 340,000,000 results. Well, part of her is on the right...

CHER!

 

'The Immortal Elvis' by Joseph Adair 1992 - Even Russia Sent A Wreath

Joseph Adair writes with precision. Brought up in Liverpool two streets away from George Harrison, he gave up the guitar and a recording career when he broke his hand. He took to writing books and has contributed to prestigious rock magazines worldwide.

The Immortal Elvis Presley - 1935-1977 (image) is no exception. It is a 1992 coffee-table book with delicious chunks of Elvis Presley information that will keep fans happy. None of those gossipy tales about the King but true stories about his journey from 'Memphis and Music' to 'Graceland, Graceland', 5 hot chapters that fill 96 pages. And there are photographs on every page.

From the time Presley stood on a little chair in the 40s and sang, Old Shep, his first public performance at a Mississippi-Alabama Fair, up to Jimmy Carter's announcement that: "Elvis Presley's death deprives our country of a part of itself," Adair tells it all.

Quotes from the book:

1. "His emotionally charged rendition of Cold, Cold Icy Fingers at the school's 1952 Christmas concert stopped the show..."

2. "it wasn't unusual for artists like Elvis, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins to get together for an afternoon singalong..." (with a large photograph of the 4).

3. "Jailhouse Rock was rock film's first classic production number."

4. Army life: "The officers expect discipline and respect, and that's what I'll give them." 5. "Francoise Hardy paid fulsome tribute: 'I can't think of anybody but Elvis I'd put myself in trouble for...'"

6. On his death: "even the Soviet Union sent a wreath."

A comprehensive book that tells you much about the King in a few pages and with lots of photographs you might not have seen before.

Image: 

Cover from Viscount Books (imprint of Reed International Books Limited, Fulham Road, London, England). 

Original article: 

Andy Lim. 

New Orleans Jazz Bands And Chinese Funeral Bands

A Western Funeral Band from New Orleans

Below: 

A Chinese funeral band from Singapore

Taken at Kim Yam Road, 1970.

                        

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As a child I remember street music in Singapore which comes from Chinese funeral processions. These funeral bands play melodies from both Chinese and English pops. One particular pop song that I can still recall, Today, (You're) Not Coming Home (Jin Tian Bu Hui Jia 今天不回家), has been played so many times at Chinese funeral street marches that it's been accepted as the unofficial theme song for the occasion 

Books from the US that discuss the history of jazz music claim that jazz bands began from dance bands or social orchestras. These were African American bands that played on the streets in New Orleans, U.S.A. officiating at funeral processions. They play solemn music on the way to the burial yard and hot jazz on the way back.

It is common knowledge in the 60s that some Singapore band boys who play in the night-clubs freelance and work as funeral musicians in the day. Again the parallel; New Orleans dance orchestras do not confine themselves to playing in the ballrooms but played at funerals. Nothing to be ashamed of because it's honest living. These funeral bands could comprise from eight members onwards and the instruments included trumpets, trombones, snare drums and cymbals.

The Chinese funeral bands have the same number of people with similar instruments. During a bigger and longer procession at a Chinese funeral (indicating the wealth of the deceased), more instruments could be used, like the larger bass drums and a tuba. When questioned why music is played during such a tear-jerking occasion, the band members explain that the noise drives evil spirits away. Comment?

Original article: Andy Lim.  

潮州大锣鼓, Grand funeral procession 

@ Simei Singapore.

YouTube Video from: tengcc

1.11.2022

Richard Lincoln from Facebook Nostalgic Singapore contributed this short article:

The Chinese associations funeral bands were called 'Kong Kuan' and the jazz bands were 'Ang Moh Kong Kuan'. The Kong Kuan would pay their respects positioned in front of the coffin at the wake just before the funeral proceeds.

There are no music sheets. Every instrument is played from memory. Drum, gongs, cymbals, wind instruments. There's a slow starting tempo which builds up into a faster one and goes soft and slow with the wind section. Then it goes up a notch or two in tempo that culminated in a rousing crescendo of all the instruments. I believe the 'symphony' takes about twenty minutes from start to finish. 

Remembering as best I can from childhood.  

3.11.2022.

Richard Rajoo, a good friend and a guitarist says:

Just to add, these *Kong Kuans* mainly belong to the Chinese Clan Associations... They will present the BRASS BAND to commemorate the passing of one of their members, families or fellow associates, to announce their own membership.

Friends from other *Kong Kuans* sometimes contribute their TROUPEs also *as a matter of pride* for the deceased family, thereby creating a big problem for the authorities, in the way of traffic congestion, at times ending in squabbles as to their band's parade positions in the final funeral procession; and all *as a matter of pride*.

Police permits are required. Sometimes, family members are not notified of appearance of guest bands... adding to the neighbourhood's din. 

Not all will appreciate the *tong tong chiang*.

**********

Image 2: National Heritage Board, Singapore. 

Image 1: http://www.allaboutjazz.com

Drum Master Slt Ben ban sian for Lay Teck Sia

YouTube Screen Shot from: TENGCC

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RJ1_9XKSPtk

Looking Back: Country Music With Maxine Brown

THIS POSTING IS NOT AN ADVERTISEMENT

If you are not familiar with the music of the 50s and 60s Maxine Brown's Looking Back To See - A Country Music Memoir - is the book to grab from the shelves of our National Library. The Three Bells (1959) is one of the biggest hits of all time and gave Maxine Brown, her sister and brother international stardom. And the story begins...

Mini review:

Maxine Brown shared stages with everyone, from unknowns to the knowns like Rick Nelson and Elvis Presley. "She saw Elvis at the beginning of his incredible, tragic ride" when she devoted one full chapter to travels with the King.

Then there were Jim Reeves and Johnny Cash and pieces of advice - "Lousy bands can mess up the greatest singers..." - from the people she met during the times of boogie-woogie, swing music, television, horror movies, The Kennedys, space flight, hula hoops and "nickel Cokes."

Country Music People magazine says it all, "This is the story of The Browns... It is also the story of rip-offs, frustration money woes, and the harsh truths about fame... Told in a spunky, no-holds-barred, immensely readable style with plenty of juicy anecdotes (blurb)."

If you have the time and interested in country music, this is the book to check out. And who are the Browns, in case you are not familiar with them? Her book tells all.

Image: Cover of "Looking Back To See - A Country Music Memoir" by Maxine Brown, The University of Arkansas Press (2005), USA. From: National Library Board, Singapore. NLB: 782.421642

Original article: Andy Lim.

The Trailers: Phoenix Theme: 中国新年凤凰歌

Seeing Double: 

For those readers who are familiar with Singapore pop music from the sixties, seeing two different covers of the same vinyl is not surprising. For those who aren't, here are two Chinese New Year red packets. This particular vinyl sold so well that they produced another lot but with a slightly different cover. Not a bootleg copy, definitely.

*44 Years Ago:

It was released exactly 44 years ago - in February 1967. The new Trailers member for this recording was Jimmy Chan, featured as the man on the keyboard. Chan was with the Flamingos Combo (remember them?) and replaced Michael Teo.

*This song was recorded 50 years ago by the Trailers, half a century ago. Wow! That was a long time back. The Trailers members should be in their sixties and seventies now. (Andy Lim: 8 January, 2017).

Victor Woo:

That's the story I have at the moment until Victor Woo comes back from his trip to tell me the real story, so for those interested the record from Cosdel contains: 

Phoenix Theme - Go Go Beat - EMI HongKong, 
Lara's Theme - Jarre and Albert, 
Ding Dong Song - Off Beat - Yao Ming n Bart, Peter Maurice 
Ali San - Off Beat - Formosan folk song, unknown

Line-up:

The back cover includes the Trailers line up for the vinyl: 

Victor Woo on lead 
Edmund on rhythm 
Eric Tan on bass
Jimmy Chan on the electric organ and piano
Tony Zee on drums and special guest
Robet Song on percussion instruments 

In case you are interested, record number is: CEP 3001. The songs were heard everywhere in Singapore and the rest of South East Asia after this vinyl was released. It was one of the most popular Chinese New Year records those years - more than 50,000 copies.  Double income.

Images: Andy Lim Collection.

Xperiment: 'Living In The Past' - Mr Rainbow64

Shades Of Kung Fu Chinatown Rock: Chinese New Year 1979: The X'periment! Living In The Past?

Ang Pow:

Well, here it is, my own copy of Chinatown Rock (images:3,4) by X'periment. It's my ang-pow (red-packet) or Chinese New Year gift for everyone. I googled for the covers but couldn't find the images. I guess this record is going into extinction, so if you have a copy, keep it. The songs are gem-stones today.

Mervyn Nonis:

It is a Singapore WEA (Warner/Elektra/Atlantic) record pressed in 1979. Eight of the songs are originals by Mervyn Nonis and the Xperiment. It is produced and engineered by Stephen Israel and Lim Gek San.

K.V. John:

Personal Manager is K.V. John, who was a great compere in the 60s and 70s with his Spot Dances and Musical Chairs. John was also a comic on stage with a very pleasant personality. Does anyone know where he is now?

Original Songs:

So for those interested, Side One has: Chinatown Rock, Here Comes That Feeling, Come And Rest On Love, Living In The Past and *Fun, Fun, Fun. Side Two carries: Different Sound, Waiting, *Hedonism Is Fun, Geraldine and Baila. (Except for the two with astericks, the rest are originals.) Some songs are on You Tube provided by MrRainbow64. THANKS VERY MUCH, SIR.

Interviews:

I am waiting to interview Mervyn Nonis. Called him some months ago but couldn't make it to meet him. If you have any idea where the other members of X'periment are please let me know. I'd be glad to make an appointment to chat and write about them. Better still, if you can, do a write-up on the Comment page. Thanks.

Greetings:

HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR OF THE RABBIT EVERYONE. DON'T FORGET TO VISIT CHINATOWN! IT ROCKS!

"The X'periment, with lead vocalist Joe Chandran, performed to full houses at the Lost Horizon, Shangrila-La Hotel during the 70s. Three of their most popular original songs which were composed by members of the group were Living In The Past, Waiting and Geraldine.

I frequented the Lost Horizon with my colleagues regularly after work and hang-out there until the early hours of the morning. We will then adjourn to joints like the Tivoli Coffee House, Chatterbox at the Mandarin Hotel etc. till the first SBS Bus rolls into Orchard Road. Those were fun days when the routine was repeated almost daily. We worked hard and play hard as well ! (Mr Rainbow64)."
Above quote taken from:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d47aeaNZ08k

Cover Images/Original article: Andy Lim.

B/W Image 1: http://www.chinatownology.com/

Image 2: http://www.blogtoexpress.blogspot.com/

Lokananta Studio: Indonesia's Abbey Road: 4th Asian Games Souvenir Vinyls Feature Moluccas Songs

(Images: a 10-inch LP, one in a series of 4 distributed during the 4th Asian Games in Djakarta in 1962.)

The present South East Asian Games in Vietnam now in 2022 reminds me of this posting, which is a reprisal from 31/1/2011.

Lokananta:

While I was posting the last few articles about Jimmy Linchong and a song from the Moluccas, I remember my few pieces of 10-inch Long Play records that I have, pressed by the famous Lokananta (literal: heavenly gamelan without drums) label. 

They are precious and not easily available in the market. And as I rummaged again feverishly through my cupboard I found four. One of them (image 2) contains the song Ajo Mama (j is pronounced yerh in Indonesian).

According to a website (internet address below), the Lokananta studio (image 3) in Indonesia is as famous as the one in Abbey Road, Westminster, London. It is the first Indonesian music label, founded in Solo, Central Java. Since its inception, Lokananta has been producing and duplicating records and audio cassette tapes.

https://www.asiaone.com/News/AsiaOne+News/Asia/Story/A1Story20121203-387259.html

When it started in 1958, the records were marketed through the RRI (Republic Ra'yat Indonesia). As the label reached its state enterprise status, the company activities included: administering, recording, broadcasting, printing and publishing. Lokananta has thousands of songs from all over Indonesia in its treasure trove and its vast collection encompasses folk, ethnic, world and pop music. So there is keroncong, Javanese gamelan, Balinese, Sundanese, Batak (North Sumatra) and other regional music.

This vast music collection includes many recordings of famous singers from Indonesia. Master tracks in the studio contain songs from legendary composers and singers like Gesang, Waljinah, Titiek Puspa, Bing Slamet, and Sam Saimun. Lokananta has more than 5,000 such track recordings of local songs. Besides songs, state speeches of the late President Sukarno are kept. 

Rasa Sayang Eh!

Aside: Controversies abound regarding the well-known song Rasasayange. According to the same web-site, this song, together with other Indonesian folk songs, can be found on a single master-track in the Lokananta studios. It is claimed by a certain country as its original folk song but is actually an original from the Moluccas.

Record Detail:

Part One - Tracks on Side One: Dari Barat Sampai Ke Timur, Ba Bendi-bendi, Seringgit Dua Kupang, Ajo Mama, Side Two: Potong Bebek Angsa, Sarinande, Lenggang-Lengang Kangkung, Kaparinjo. Orkes Lokanada, pimpinan B. Y. Supardi.

The original and detailed version can be found in the website below: http://www.reviewing-blogs.blogspot.com/2010/05/lokananta-indonesian-abbey-road.html 

Record Cover image: Andy Lim Collection.

Comments and articles are welcome regarding this topic. Thank You.

(Because of copyright, I have deleted the two photographs showing the recording studios and replaced them with the image of my own personal copy of the album I discussed. You can see the studio images on JGP 4838 Flickr.)